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V O TE •94 NEW JERSEY LESBIAN & GAY COALITIO N 9 A Voters Guide to 9 Candidates Positions on Lesbian & Gay Issues General Election Tuesday, November 8 Polls Open 7 am to 8 pm The following is a paid political advertisement and does not represent the opinion of die New Jersey Lesbian & Gay Coalition. THE NEW TIMES NOVEMBER 6, 1996 IESSE HELMS ELECTED PRESIDENT Pledges To Harass and Authorizes Death Penalty Appoints Pat Robertson To Imprison All Gays! For Any Woman Who Oversee Lesbian/Gay In keeping with his Receives An Abortion Concentration Camps campaign promises, President Helms Activating a never before Using the increasing public has set up a federal task force to work used clause in the United States fear of AIDS as a catalyst, President Helms with organizations like the Traditional Constitution, President Helms issued an has established a cabinet level position, Values Coalition and the Concerned Executive Order treating abortion as headed by Pat Robertson, to set up Women for America. The President first degree murder punishable by the "quarantine camps" for "all homosexual has outlined a three part plan of action dealth penalty. This order takes effect persons who have or are perceived to have for his task force. immediately and applies to both the AIDS." This action, according to the 1) Set up a nationwide doctor perfroming the abortion as well President, "will ensure the healthy future of database of gay and lesbian Americans. as the woman who receives it. In some our children and grandchildren." 2) Using the existing cases a boyfriend who pays for an Excited about the prospect of sodomy laws from over twenty states, abortion can also be charged with his new position, Pat Robertson said "the the task force will begin working with murder and sentenced to death. American people want this, the American local, state and federal law enforce The President has asked for people need this, the American people ment officials to arrest and imprison all the assistance of Operation Rescue in deserve this." gay and lesbian citizens of those states. immediately closing down all American In a press conference the 3) In those states that have family planning clinics. Reacting to the executive director of the American Civil decriminalized homosexual activity news, Operation Rescue members were Liberties Union said "Today is the first day between consenting adults, the task quoted as saying "who arc we going to of the American Third Reich. No one will force will develop a network of harass now?" be safe from this iminent reign of terror." concerned Americans to harass and A brief statement was read from the attack gays and lesbians. imprisoned director of the National Gay & S O U ND S C A R Y? Lesbian Taske Force "I implore all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people to leave now. You arc no longer considered HOW CAN YOU PREVENT THIS? human in this country." R E G I S T E R — T H EN V O TE G ET INVOLVED — VOLUNTEER NEW JERSEY LESBIAN & GAY COALITION MEMBERSHIP FORM Yes! I want to join the New Jersey Lesbian & Gay Coalition in its fight for equality! All memberships include a subscription to 'News Jersey' the Coalition's monthly newsletter. For further information about the Coalition see the back page of this guide. BASIC $35 Name STUDENT/SENIOR $20 Address CONTRIBUTION $ . Phone Please check this box if you prefer not to receive 'News Jersey' • Make checks payable to NJLGC and mail to PO Box 11335 New Brunswick NJ 08906-1335 V O TE ' 94 INTRODUCTION: HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE: VOTE is published annually by the Government & Legislative Committee of On page 10 you will find a New Jersey the New Jersey Lesbian & Gay Coalition. map outlining each of the State's 13 The Coalition does not endorse political congressional districts. If you are not sure candidates and this guide is meant solely of your district, find the one you think to inform New Jersey's lesbian, gay, you may be in, then check the list of bisexual, transgender and HIV+ communi towns provided for each district. The bills ties on the positions of candidates on and questions referenced under each issues of importance to them. The candidate can be found on pages 8 and 9. Coalition is challenging New Jersey's gay Just flip back and forth between these community to get involved in the political pages and your process and make a district to see difference. TABLE OF CONTENTS where the The Coalition's cancidates A634 Task Force stand. played a leading THE POLITICAL BASICS 6 & 7 role in gaining civil All candidates KEY VOTES IN CONGRESS 8 rights protections received the NJLGC QUESTIONAIRE 9 for New Jersey's NJLGC lesbian, gay & NJ CONGRESSIONAL MAP. 10 questionnaire bisexual citizens. SENATE CANDIDATES 11 with ample To continue as a CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES 12-24 time to viable political respond. ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES 25 Follow up force, fighting the phone calls radical right and advancing our basic civil were made as a reminder of our deadline. rights WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! Fred However, candidates' failure to respond is Eisinger and John Parker (this year's not necessarily an indication that the production team) hope that you find this candidate would have responded nega guide useful and that it will give you that tively. All candidates are listed in extra enthusiasm to get involved in the alphabetical order. issues that affect your life! THOUSANDS OF ELECTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE BEEN WON BY A SINGLE VOTE! ONE VOTE MAKES A DIFFERENCE! 5 THE POLITICAL BASICS MOW TO R E G I S T ER V You must be a U.S. citizen, and by the next election be 18 years of age and a resident of your county for 30 days. V In person at county elections boards and at town/borough/city clerk's of fices or by mail by obtaining a form from one of the above or most local libraries. V To vote, you must be registered at least 29 days before the election. MOW TO OONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES Your legislators are in office to represent you! Do not hesitate to contact them to find out their views on certain issues or to urge them to support or oppose bills. All of our legislators maintain local offices (check the "blue pages" in your telephone directory) and our federal officials also have offices in Washington, D.C. If you don't find their local addresses, you can write or contact them as indicated below. (Federal) Honorable John Doe Honorable Jane Smith United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Senator Doe: Dear Ms Smith: (State) Honorable Ruth Jones Honorable Charles Howard New Jersey Senate New Jersey General Assembly State House State House Trenton, NJ 08625 Trenton, NJ 08625 Dear Senator Jones: Dear Mr. Howard: [NOTE: state legislators do not maintain offices in the State House with the exception of the Senate President, Assembly Speaker and minority leaders of both houses.] Not sure who your representatives are? Call your municipal clerk, the NJ Division of Elections (609-292-3760) or the League of Women Voters (800-792-VOTE). United States Senate 202-226-1414. House of Representatives 202-225-2421. New Jersey State House 609-292-2121. Governor's office 609-292-6000. 6 ELECTIONS General Elections - held first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. We have the opportunity to vote for candidates for all federal, state, county and, in most places, municipal offices (also see Non-Partisan Municipal below). Referenda and constitutional amendments also appear on the ballot at this time. - Members of Congress are elected to two-year terms in even-numbered years. - U.S. Senators are elected to six-years terms during even-numbered years. - New Jersey Assembly members are elected to two-year terms during odd- n um bered year. - New Jersey State Senators (pay attention, now) are elected to two-year terms in years ending in "1" (e.g., 1991) and to four-year terms inyears ending in "3" and "7" (1993 and 1997-strange but true). Primary Elections - held on first Tuesday after the first Monday in June. You must be registered in a party or declare for one at the polls if you are not. Non-Partisan Municipal Elections - second Tuesday in May. Almost ninety of the state's 567 municipalities have governments where candidates for mayor and council do not run under major party labels. They are located throughout the state and include a cross-section of towns and suburban communities — most of the large cities but also the smallest (Pine Valley, population 19). School Elections - usually held on the first Tuesday in April. Budgets on the ballot as well as candidates for local school boards. These are extremely important although they normally have very low turnout (10% of eligible voters is common). Because there is often very little interest, it is easier for the religious right to elect "stealth" candidates. Such people, whose views are not well known, will advocate the religious right's positions on curriculum, selection of teachers and principals and other crucial education issues on school boards. They have been elected in much of the country and even here in the Garden State. Sample Ballots - If you are registered to vote, you should receive a sample ballot, listing all candidates and legal and descriptive language for all initiatives, one to two weeks before an election. DEMOCRACY <)S W7 A SPECTATOR SPORT KEY VOTES IN CONGRESS Senator Lautenberg and incumbent representatives votes on issues of importance to the lesbian, gay and bisexual community are shown on pages 11 through 24. The votes were drawn from Report Cards compiled by the Human Rights Campaign Fund (103rd Congress) and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (102nd Congress). These issues are briefly described below and are identified by a number for each session. The NJLGC questionnaire was sent to all candidates profiled in this guide - their responses are also shown (by question number) under each candidates name on pages SENATE VOTES u through 24. 103rd Congress 1. Lesbians and gay men in the military. A "+" indicates a vote to block codification of the then existing discriminatory policy. Passed 62-37 on 2/4/93. 2. Prohibition of the Immigration ofHIV+ individuals. A "+" votes indicates opposition to codifying the Department of Health and Human Services' prohibition of the permanent immigration of HIV+ individuals. Passed 76-23 on 2/18/93. 3. Confirmation of the nomination of Roberta Achtenberg. A "+" vote indicates support for the nomination of Achtenberg, an open lesbian, as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Passed 58-31 on 5/24/93. 4. District of Columbia's Domestic Partners Ordinance. A "+" vote indicates support for unmarried couples to register with the D.C. government making them eligible for group health insurance offered to D.C. employees at a higher rate. Rejected 43-55 on 7/27/93. 5. Codification of the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. A "+" indicates a vote to prevent codification of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Rejected 33-63 on 9/9/93. 6. Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act. A "+" indicates support for the amendment to increase penalties for federal crimes motivated by a victim's sexual orientation. This was the first piece of federal legialtion to provide protection on the basis of sexual orientation. Passed 95-4 on 11/4/93. 7. Homosexual seminars - Agriculture appropriations. A "+" indicates opposition to a Helms amendment prohibiting the Dept. of Agriculture from running seminars or financing any position that encourages its employees to recruit on the basis of gay orientation or to accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle. Passed 92-8 on 7/19/94. 8. Homosexual lifestyle - Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization. A "+" indicates opposition to another Helms amendment to prohibit agencies receiving money under the bill from encouraging or supporting homosexuality as a positive lifestyle. Passed 63-36 on 8/1/94. 102nd Congress 1. Health care professionals - invasive procedures. A "+" vote indicates opposition to a Helms amendment which would make it a federal crime for a doctor, dentist or other health care provider who knows he/she has HIV and continues to perform invasive procedures without informing patients. Passed 81-18 on 7/18/91 2. Motion to table Helms "HIV testing of Patients" amendment. A "+" vote supported Sen. Kennedy's motion to table a Helms amendment which would have required the mandatory HIV testing of patients who are about to undergo an invasive procedure. Rejected 44-55 on 7/30/91. 3. Sexual behavior research. A "+" vote indicates opposition to Helms' prohibition of funding for sexual behavior research. Passed 51 -46 on 4/2/92. 4. DC Domestic Partners. A "+" vote indicates support for defeating this amendment to repeal DC domestic partners benefits. Rejected 41-51 on 7/30/92. 5. "Boy Scouts" amendment A "+" vote indicates opposition to Helms' attempt to withhold federal money from any charity who withdraws support for the BSA because of its anti-gay policy. Rejected 49-49 on 9/22/91. 8 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES 103rd Congress /. Lesbians & gay men in the military. (See Senate) Passed 247-152 on 2/4/93. 2. Prohibition of the Immigration of HIV+ individuals. (See Senate) Passed 278-139 on 3/11/93 3. DC Domestic Partners Ordinance. (See Senate) Passed 251-177 on 6/30/93 4. Codification of the ban on gays & lesbians in the military. (See Senate) Rejected 169-264 on 9/28/93. 5. Reinstatement of the asking of military personnel's sexual orientation. A "+" vote indicates opposition to the policy of asking a person's sexual orientation. Rejected 144-291 on 9/28/93. 6. Elementary & Secondary Education Reauthorization. A "+" vote indicates opposition to a Doolittle amendment which would have required schools receiving federal funds to teach absti nence as the only effective protection against disease and pregnancy. Passed 262-166 on 3/22/94. 7. Education Reauthorization - Obscene Material. This bill would prohibit educational agencies from using federal money to distribute obscene material to minors. The amendment is an attempt to water-down the anti-gay Hancock amendment which would have withheld money from any school which presents homosexuality in a positive way. A 'u" vote indicates support for the 'watering down'. Passed 224-194 on 3/24/94. 8. Military Recruiting. A "+" vote indicates opposition to this amendment which withholds federal money from any university prohibiting military recruitment. Passed 271-126 on 5/23/94. 9. DC Domestic Partners. (See Senate) Passed 251-176 on 7/13/94. 102nd Congress 1. Sexual behavior research. (See Senate) Rejected 283-137 on 7/25/91. 2. Sexual behavior research. (See Senate) Rejected 262-154 on 9/24/91. 3. DC Domestic Partners. (See Senate) Passed 235-173 on 9/24/92. NILGC QUESTIONNAIRE (Candidates' responses are listed below their name by district. Y-Yes, N-No, U-Unsure) 1. Should government, at any level, have the right to regulate private non-commercial consensual adult sexual behavior? 2. Would you appoint a qualified openly gay or lesbian person to your staff? 3. Do you support prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and federal government programs? 4. Do you support repealing the ban against lesbians and gay men in the military? 5. Do you agree with the emerging scientific evidence that sexual orientation is an inborn human characteristic as basic as hair, eye or skin color? 6. Do you believe that the wave of initiatives to prohibit equal rights for lesbians and gay men which are being voted on around the country are contrary to the principles upon which our nation was founded? 7. Do you believe that violent crimes motivated by hatred of a person's sexual orientation should receive stiffer penalties during sentencing? 8. Do you support extending health and welfare benefits to same-sex couples in committed long- term relationships? 9. Do you believe a parent's sexual orientation should be a determining or influencing factor in custody decisions? 10. Do you believe an applicant's sexual orientation should be a determining or influencing factor in that person's opportunity to adopt a child or become a foster parent? 11. Should HIV testing be mandatory? 12. Do you support protecting the anonymity of a person with regard to their HIV status? 9 New Jersey Congressional Districts S E N A TE CANDIDATES GARABED "CHUCK" HAYTAIAN Republican, Hackettstown NJLGC Questionnaire While Speaker Haytaian did not com plete the questionnaire, he did respond with a letter indicating that it was not his policy to do so as well as general campaign information including a position paper on his support for human rights (without specific mention of sexual orientation). The letter also invited us to meet with him. V As Assembly Minority Leader, he did not cast a vote on our civil rights, although he did not discourage others from doing so. (The bill passed with bipartisan support.) SENATOR FRANK R. LAUTENBERG Democrat, Secaucus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Votes of the 103rd + + + ++ + - + Votes of the 102nd - + + + + NJLGC Questionnaire N Y Y Y U YY * * * N Y [* Note: Sen. Lautenberg supported the issues raised in ques tions 8,9 and 10 but deferred to the state gov't and local profes sionals in making specific decisions.] V Co-sponsored anti-discrimination bill in both the 103rd and 102nd Congress. V Signed a statement indicating that sexual orientation was not a consideration in making employment decisions regarding his staff. Please refer to Key Votes and Questionnaire on pages 8-9* 11 Ut C O N C E S S I O N AL DISTRICT BURLINGTON: Maple Shade, Palmyra, Riverton; CAMDEN: Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrlngton, Bellmawr, Berlin Boro, Berlin Twp., Brooklawn, Camden, Chesilhurst, Clementon, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Gloucester City, Gloucester Twp., HaddonTwp. (part), Haddon Heights, Hi-Nella, Laurel Springs, Lawnside, Lindenwold, Magnolia, Mt. Ephraim, Oaklyn, Pennsauken, Pine Hill, Pine Valley, Runnemede, Somerdale, Stratford, Tavistock, Voorhees, Winslow.Woodlynne; GLOUCESTER: Deptford, East Greenwich, Greenwich, Logan, Mantua (part), Monroe, National Park, Paulsboro, Washington, Wenonah, West Deptford, Westville, Woodbury, Woodbury Heights. REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT E. ANDREWS Democrat, Bellmawr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Votes of the 103rd + - + - + + ?- + Votes of the 102nd + ' + + NJLGC Questionnaire Failed to respond V Signed the HRCF statement indicating that sexual orienta tion was not a consideration in making employment decisions regarding his staff. V Co-sponsored anti-discrimination bill in 102nd Congress. JAMES N. HOGAN Republican, Franklinville NJLGC Questionnaire Failed to respond Please refer to Key Votes and Questionnaire on pages 8-9, 12